COUNCIL SETS LIMITS FOR POTENTIAL COMPASSION CENTERS

With the location announcement for Rhode Island's first "compassion
center" just weeks away, the Town Council adopted a new ordinance on
Tuesday night, making town specific regulations for these medical
marijuana facilities.

"Under the Medical Marijuana Act it is a requirement of cities and
towns that each applicant has to be in compliance with the local
zoning board. This will give teeth to the laws," said Town Attorney
Timothy Chapman. State regulations for compassion centers require that
they be at least 500 feet from a school, have alarm and security
measures to deter theft and follow dispense and possession
restrictions.

The town has decided to take some of these measures even further with
the ordinance. The location cannot adversely affect the economic
welfare of the nearby community, including property used for school,
public or private park or other location where groups of minors
regularly congregate. The exterior appearance of the structure must
also be consistent with the appearance of structures already existing
within the immediate neighborhood, so as to prevent blight or
deterioration, or substantial diminishment or impairment of property
values within the neighborhood.

"I do believe I'm compassionate and I think they've covered this from
A to Z so I'll support it," said Dist. 2 Councilman Ernie Pitochelli.
Of the 15 applicants currently under review by the Department of
Health, the agency charged with overseeing the law, none have proposed
locations in Johnston.

The ordinance goes further to ensure that a center not be located
within 1,500 feet from a school, house of worship, park, playground,
youth center or similar facility geared at children. They cannot be
within 1,000 feet from the nearest residential zoning district or any
of the Johnston town lines and cannot be within 2,000 feet from any
other compassion center.

Council Vice President Stephanie Manzi asked if applicants could
challenge the ordinance if they feel the regulations are too
stringent, to which Champan replied that they could.

"We are trying to find where they would be best suited," said Chapman.
The centers can only be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., shall comply with
off-street parking and loading requirements, and in no way be able to
have a freestanding accessory sign.